Compressor-drive support for refrigerator cars



Oct. 24, 1933.

J. KOPSA El AL Filed Nov. 6, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a. h g E a 9 11 n m c1 c1 77 5' 1.7 a do 10/ M if? 1:

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Oct. 24, 1933. .i. KOPSA ET AL 1,931,397

COMPRESSOR DRIVE SUPPORT FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Nov. 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 M84615 10 v 1/ Iz/z'us (0 am Patented Oct. 24, 1933 i s'rArss rice pram

COMPRESSOR-DRIVE SUPPORT FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Julius Kopsa, Chicago, and Edmund D. Brigham,

Jr., Highland Park, 111., assignors' to North American Car CorporatiomChicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application November 6,1930. Serial No. 493,900

16 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and usepower is taken from one of the car axles to drive the compressor of the refrigerating system, or for any other similar purpose. 7

While the improved driving mechanism supporting-means could be used in any system where power is to be taken from one of the car axles, it has been particularly designed for use in connection with a refrigerating system for railway refrigerator cars of the general type disclosed and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 493,897, filed November 6, 1930. A refrigerating system of this type comprises a compressor located beneath the car body, a condenser positioned on top of the car body, and suitable refrigerating elements positioned within the car for maintaining the desired low temperature therein. The vaporized refrigerant is compressed in the compressor, then conducted to the condenser wherein it is liquefied and transferredinto the car and then expanded in the'refrigerating elements so as to withdraw heat from the air and materials stored within the car. The expanded refrigerant then flows back to the condenser to complete the cycle. The compressor is driven from a part of the running gear of the car when the car is in motion.

Since the compressor is carried by the car body, and the assembled car truck, axles and wheels from which thepower is to be taken, must swivel with relation to the body when rounding curves, it will be apparent that thedriving connections used must comprise flexible and extensible means to permit these relative movements between the car truck and-the compressor. The form of driving means here used comprises a sprocket wheel secured on one of the car axles 'betweena pair of the car wheels, a second sprocket wheel supported substantially in the plane of the first sprocket by means of a bracket extending from one end of one of the truck side frames inwardly around the adjacent car wheel, so that the sprockets will always remain in alignment regardless of the swivelling movements of the truck, and a flexible and extensible telescopic shaft connecting the second sprocket with the drive shaft of the compressor.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved supporting means for a portion of the driving mechanism for the compressor of refrigerator cars, as briefly described hereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specifications which follow.

Another object is to provide an improved bracket for supporting a sprocket wheel from one of the truck side frames of a refrigerator car.

Another object is to provide such a supporting bracket with improved means for adjusting the sprocket wheel carried thereby toward or from the axle so as to properly tension the sprocket chain.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of one approved form of mechanism embodying the principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a refrigerator car on which this improved supporting means is mounted.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the car trucks and the improved driving means, this view being taken from directly beneath the car body and looking downwardly.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the supporting bracket.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the supporting bracket and a portion of the gearing connections, as applied to the car truck.

Fig. 5 is'a partial plan view and partial horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

' Referring to the drawings, the closed body 1 of the refrigerator car is carried by trucks 2 supported on' wheels 4 traveling on rails 5. Each car truck comprises a bolster 6 swiveled at 7 to the car body, and comprising side frames 8, in the ends of which are mounted the journal boxes 9, in which are journaled the ends of axles 10 which carry the supporting wheels 4.. All of this is standard in refrigerator cars of this type.

The refrigerator car is cooled by means of a mechanical refrigeration system which includes a compressor carried by a housing 11 suspended beneath the car body 1 adjacent one of the trucks 2. The refrigeration system also com prises a condenser on the roof of the car, and refrigerating elements and control mechanism therefor positioned within the car body 1, through all of which the refrigerant is circulated by means of the mechanically driven compressor positioned within the casing 11 and having a drive shaft projecting therefrom, as indicated at 12 (Fig. 2).

In this type of refrigerator car, the compressor is driven from the running gear of the car comprises an upper flange portion blocks. By suitably adjusting these screv.

whenever the car is in motion. The present invention relates to improvements in the form of this driving connection and more especially in the supporting means for a portion of driving connections. A sprocket wheel 13 is fixedly secured to one Of the axles 10, between a pair of the wheels l and rather closely adjacent the inner side of one of these wheels, as best shown in Fig. 1. This sprocket 13 can conveniently be made in sectional form and clamped about the axle 10, so that it may be assembled with a car truck already in use. The driving sprocket 13 is connected by sprocket chain 14 with a second sprocket 15 adapted to be positioned in substantial axial alignment with the drive shaft 12 of the compressor.

For the purpose of supporting this second sprocket wheel 15, an improved bracket member is used, preferably in the form of a one-piece casting, shaped at its outer end to be secured to one'end portion of the truck side frame 8 at the side of the car where this drive mechanism is located. This end of the supporti bracket adapted to rest upon and overlie the upwardly inclined top surface of this end portion of the side frame, and a downwardly extending flange portion 17 adapted to rest against ti e end portion of the side frame and journal box 9 carried thereby. These flanges 16 and 17 are riveted or bolted to the side frame, as indicated at 18. The main supporting arm 19 of the bracket is of modified I-beam construction comprising a central, vertical web 20 which curves in an irregular manner downwardly and inwardly so as to extend around the adjacent wheel l, and upper sub-- stantially horizontal flanges 21 and lower flanges 22. A vertical bracing web 23 extends between the lower flanges22 of the I-beam member and the vertical attaching flange portion 1'7, as best shown in Fig. 4.

The vertical web 20 of the supporting arm decreases in height as it extends inwardly, and the upper and lower flanges 21 and 22 consequently approach one another, until the inner end of the arm connects at 24 with the loop member 25. The loop 25 lies in a substantially horizontal plane and comprises an upper plate portion 26 reinforced by a series of downwardly extending flanges 27. This loop 25 is adapted to enclose the sprocket wheel 15, with the opening 28 between the side arms or" the yoke positioned in substantial alignment with the driving sprocket 13 on the axle 10.

A pair of vertically extending arms 29 project upwardly in spaced relation from each side arm 30 or" the loop 25, the upper ends of each pair of arms 29 being connected by a cover plate 81 bolted to the arms 29 at 32. The driven sprocket 15 is connected through a shock absorbing mechanism enclosed in casing 33 with the driven shaft 34, which is journaled in a pair of bearings 35, one of which is slidably carried between guides on the upper surface of each side e121 3 of loop 25 and the under surfaces of cover plates 31, each bearing 35 being horizontally adjustable between a pair of the arms .29, by of adjusting screws 36 extending inwardly through the arms 29 and engaging the 36, the sprocket 15 can be moved toward or from the axle 10 so as to properly tension the sprocket chain 14.

The inner end of driven shaft es is connected with the drive shaft 12 of the compressor, by

means of a flexible and extensible shaft en bodying a pair of universal joints 3'? and 38, near the opposite ends thereof, and an intermediate telescopic shaft section 39.

It will be apparent that the entire sprocket drive assembly comprising the two sprockets 13 and 15, the connecting chain 14:, and the bracket arm and associated parts for supporting the sprocket 15, will all follow the motions of the car truck, as it swivels about the center 7 in following the curves of the track. The compressor supported in the casing 11 suspended from the car body 1 will not partake of these movements, so there will be a more or less constant shifting of the relative positions of the driven sprocket 15 and the drive shaft 12 of the compressor.

section 39, as already described, will permit these relative movements of the driven sprocket 15 and drive shaft 12 of the compressor, while'at the same time maintaining constant driving connections between these parts.

It will be apparent that otherequivalentforrns of driving gearing, or other power-transmitting .inechanism, could be used instead of the sprocket gearing here shown, to transmit power from .an intermediate portion of the car'axle 710 to the driven shaft 34 supported atthe inner end of the bracket. W 1

It will be seen that this invention provides a driving connection that can be easily attached'to portinga sprocket wheel'in driving alignment with asprocket secur d-to the cariaxlepsaid neans comprising a'bracketshapedrat its outer end to be anchored to an .endportion oita truck side frameni the car, the bracket extending inwardly around the adjacent fear wheel iand formed at its free end portion to support xa sprocket wheel. J

2. In a mechanism for obtaining power from one oithe axlesoi a railway car, means for-supporting asprocket wh el in'driving alignment with a-sprocket "secured to the .car axle, said means comprising 'a :bracket shaped rat 'its outer 'end to beanchored to an endportion of atruck side frame of the car, the bracket extending inwardly around the adjacent car wheel and formed at its free-end portion with aloop between the-side arms of which asprocketjmay be journaled.

3. In a mechanism for obtaining power from one of the axles of a railway car, means'for supportinga sprocket wheel in drivingaligninent with a sprocket secured to the car axle, said means comprising a bracket shaped at its outer end to be anchored to an end portion of a truck side frame or" the car, the bracket extendingiinwardly around the adjacent car wheel and j formed at its free end portion with aloopcomprising spacedapart side armsextending. atsubstantial right-angles to the axle, aligned. journal bearings adjustably mounted in the side arms or" the loop, anda sprocket-supporting,shaft.jour- The flexible shaft 40, comprising the universal joints 3'7 and 38 and the telescopic Lia naled in the bearings in parallelism with the axle.

4. In a mechanism for obtaining power from one of the axles of a railway can-means for'supporting a sprocket wheel in'driving alignment with a sprocket secured to the car axle, said means comprising a bracket shaped at its outer end to be anchoredto an endportion of a truck side frame of the car, the bracket extending inwardly around the adjacent car wheel and formed at its free end portion with a loop comprising spaced apart side arms extending substantially at right angles to the axle, aligned journal bearings mounted in the arms of'the loop, a sprocket-supporting shaft journaled in the bearings in parallelism with the axle, and means for adjusting the bearings toward on I from the axle.

5. In a; mechanism for obtaining power from one of the axles of a railway car, means for supporting a sprocket wheel in driving'alignment with a sprocket secured to the car axle, said means comprising a bracket shaped at its outer end to lac-anchored to an end portion of a truck side'frame of the car, the bracket extending inwardly around the adjacent car wheel and for -zed at its free end portion with a loop comprising spaced apart side arms extending substantially at t angles to the axle, each arm of the loop being provided with a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending arms between which a journal bearin may be'mounted, and adjusting screws in the upwardly extending arms for moving the bearings toward or from the car axle.

6. In a mechanism for obtaining power from one of the axles of a railway car, means for sup porting a sprocket wheel in driving alignment with a sprocket secured to the car axle, said means comprising a bracket formed at its outer end with a flange to overlap the upper end portion of a truck side frame of the car, and with a vertical flange abutting the end of the side frame, these flanges being anchoredto the side frame, the bracket having an arm in the general form of an I-beam having a vertical web, said arm extending inwardly and downwardly around the adjacent car wheel, and the free end of the bracket at the inner end of the arm being in the form of a loop to enclose and support a sprocket.

7. In a mechanism for obtaining power from one of the axles of a railway car, means for supporting a sprocket wheel in driving alignment with a sprocket secured to the car axle, said means comprising a bracket formed at its outer end with a flange to overlap the upper end portion of a truck side frame of the car, and with a vertical flange abutting the end of the side frame, these flanges being anchored to the side frame, the bracket having an arm in the general form of an I-bearn having a vertical web, said arm extending inwardly and downwardly around the adjacent car wheel, and the free end of the bracket at the inner end of thearm being in the form of a loop to enclose a sprocket, said loop comprising spaced apart side extending substantially at right angles to the axle, each arm of the loop bein provided with a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending arms between which a journal bearing may be mounted, and adjusting screws in the upwardly extending arms for moving the bearings toward or from the car axle. I

8. In combination with a railway refrigerator car and the compressor of a mechanical refrigeration system, said compressor being supported beneath the car'body, means for driving the compressor comprising a sprocket wheel secured tical plane of the first mentioned sprocket, a

chain connecting the wheels, and flexible drive means extendingfrom the second sprocket to the compressor. I

9. In combination with a railway refrigerator car and-the compressor of a mechanical refrigeration system, said compressor being supported beneath the car body, means for driving the compressor comprising a sprocket wheel secured to one of the car axles between the car-wheels there'- on, a supporting bracket anchored at one end to to the end portion of a truck side'frame and extending inwardly around the adjacent car wheel,

a second sprocket wheel carried by the free end of the bracket substantially in the vertical plane of the first mentioned sprocket, a chain connecting the wheels, and a flexible and telescopic shaft extending from the second sprocket wheel to the compressor. I r a 10. In combination with a railway refrigerator car and the compressor of a mechanical refrigeration system, said compressor being supported beneath the car body, ineans'for driving the compressor comprising a sprocketwheelsecured to one of the car axles between the car wheels thereon, a supporting bracket having its outer end shaped to fit about the end portion of a truck side frame and anchored thereto, said bracket extending inwardly around the adjacent car wheel and terminating in a loop member, a driven shaft supported in the loop parallel to the car axle, a second sprocket carried by this shaft, a chain connecting the sprockets, and a flexible shaft extending from the driven shaft to the compressor. g

11. In combination with a railway refrigerator car and the compressor of a mechanical refrigeration system, said compressor being supported beneath the car body, means for driving the compressor comprising a sprocket wheel secured to one of the car axles between the car wheels thereon, a supporting bracket having its outer end shaped to fit about the end portion of a truck side frame and anchored thereto, said bracket extending inwardly around the adjacent car Wheel and terminating in a loop having side arms extending substantially at right angles to the axle, a pair of aligned bearings adjustably mounted in the side arms of the loop, a driven shaft journaled in the bearings, a second sprocket on this shaft, a chain connecting the sprockets, and a flexible shaft extending from the driven shaft to the compressor.

12. In combination with a railway refrigerator car and the compressor of a mechanical refrigeraneath the car body, means for driving the compressor comprising a sprocket wheel secured to 7 one of the car axles between the car wheels thereon, a supporting bracket having its outer end shaped to fit about the end portion of a truck side frame and anchored thereto, said bracket extendin inwardly around the adjacent car wheel and terminating in a loop having side arms extending substantially at right angles to the axle, a pair of vertically extending arms carried by each of the side arms of the loop, a bearing adjustablyzmounted betweenzeach-pair of the vertical arms, :a :driven;shaft ,zjournaled .in the bearingszandjpositioned parallel to the car axle, a second sprocket mounted on this driven shaft betweenxthe-armsiof the loop, a chain connecting thesprockets, and:a-fiexible shaft extending from the *driven shaft to the compressor.

. 13. .In combination with a railway refrigerator .canand the compressor ofa mechanical refrigeration system, said compressor being supported beneath the car body,.means for driving the compressor comprising a sprocket wheel-secured to one. of the caraxleszbetween the carwheels thereon,.-aisupporting bracket having .its outer end shaped to fit about ;the.end portionof .a truck side iframe and anchored thereto, said bracket extending inwardlyzabout the adjacent car wheel and terminating in :a loop having spaced apart side arms, :a pair of vertically extending .arms carried. by: each side arm of "the-loop; cover plates .connectingthe uppcrendszof each-pair of arms, ja bearingiguided between each arm of'the loop randsthe cover plate thereabove,: adjusting screws one in'each vertical-arm :for adjusting the bearingsztow-ard or from the :axle, ashaft journaled -in' the bearings a sprocket carried .by the driven shaft between the arms of the yoke, a chain connecting the sprockets, and r a flexible shaft connecting:thadrivenshaft with the compressor.

r14. vIn amechanismior obtaining power from anzaxlerof'a rai1way'car, the combination with a truck:side;;frame,-of a bracket-having one end mas-1 8.97

thereof :conformed-to fit against'and "be secured to an end portion of said side frame, said Wardly around the adjacent carwheel and formed at its free inner end .to support a portion of a power transmitting mechanism :through which power is taken from the car axle.

16. In a mechanism for obtaining power'from one of the axles of a railway car, a supporting mechanism comprising a bracket shaped at its outer end tobe'anchored to an end-portion ofpa truck side frame ofthe can-the bracket extending inwardly and downwardly around the ?adjacent side-wheel so that its free innerend is-positioned beneath the car, this inner end'being formed to support a portion of a power transmitting mechanism through which power is taken from an intermediate portion of the car axle.

JULIUS KOPSA. EDMUND D. BRIGHAM, JR. 

